How to "digitize" my logo for embroidery?

[nStyle]

Not sure what these people at Lids are talking about. I want to get a logo I made on Photoshop onto a blank hat, basically. They told me I need to "digitize" the logo. Naturally, it is already digitized, just not the right format they need.

They said something about DMT or EMF... I prob have those completely backwards and wrong but they told me what format I needed. The only thing I know is that it is not a natural format in Photoshop.

Lids has some pretty standard software that runs on Windows and I'm not sure what they use but if I did I could probably get somewhere. I was in the store today and didn't think to ask them to click on File >> Open to see what kind of files that the program would accept. I am sure they knew what they were talking about when they said "DMT or EMF" (again, I haven't the slightest recollection of what they actually said) but it still might of helped to go that extra step.

If anyone knows what I need to do, it would be great, as I am trying to keep everything uniform between my shirts, website, and hats.

Thanks.

[citizenzen]

According to the Lids website custom artwork requires files in GIF or JPEG.

Shame on you for not thinking to check their website.

Shame, shame, shame, shame, shame.

[nStyle]

Shame on you for not understanding my question....

There is a $50 fee for them to "digitize" it. There has to be a way to do it cheaper and take the correct format on a USB stick to the store and skip the $50 process.

Well, I guess there doesn't have to be per say, but I am willing to bet that there is a way.

[MisterMe]

Originally Posted by nStyle

Shame on you for not understanding my question....

...

No. It is you who did not understand the answer. The logo must be in GIF or JPEG format. The one-time $50.00 fee is the setup fee to get your digital artwork into the embroidery machine. This fee is waived for orders of 36 or more.

I gather from your response to citizenzen that you think that you can weasel your way out of the $50 fee by converting your artwork into the embroidery machine's format. I am afraid that you have another think coming. If embroidery is anything like every other professional graphic art, then then converting artwork from GIF or JPEG into the machine's format is only a small part of the setup.

[citizenzen]

Originally Posted by nStyle

There is a $50 fee for them to "digitize" it. There has to be a way to do it cheaper and take the correct format on a USB stick to the store and skip the $50 process.

You're right on one count. The file is already "digitized" when you give them the GIF or JPG. What they should really say is that the file needs to be rasterized.

rasterize
Part of Speech: verb
Definition: to convert an image into points on a grid, to convert an image into bitmap format

The GIF or JPG needs to be converted from a image made from pixels to an image made from thread. That must be an interesting process. I'd like to see the software and hardware needed to make it happen. In my mind a $50 set up fee sounds more than reasonable.

Or, you can always learn how to embroider.

[DesignerOnMac]

Originally Posted by nStyle

Shame on you for not understanding my question....

There is a $50 fee for them to "digitize" it. There has to be a way to do it cheaper and take the correct format on a USB stick to the store and skip the $50 process.

Well, I guess there doesn't have to be per say, but I am willing to bet that there is a way.

In order to embroider any design on any article of clothing, you need to provide Lids with an outline of the artwork and a color print of the colors you want, if any.

Digitizing is different than giving a printer artwork. I have worked with several digitizing companies. What Lids or any other company has to do is use their digitizing devise, which plots the design to be interpreted by the stitching machine. The plotter, 'digitizer', determines the number of thread lines needed to fill your design.

A $50 fee is cheap compared to others. I have paid hundreds of dollars to get designs on t-shirts, jackets, hats, etc.

Hope this helps.

[AnotherDay]

I never realized how much work it was to set up and get a file digitized until I worked in a place that does custom embroidery.

Once the file is sent out to a digitizer for conversion into a file that can tell the embroidery machine where and how to stitch, the embroidery shop needs to stitch out the file as often there are edits to be made because stitches do not always look exactly the same as a graphic image of a logo. You are using thread stitches and thin lines, you can't always get the curves or solid edges, depending on the design. So now they have the time taken to send your graphic off, get it back, and stitch it out, call you, show it to you, then likely send it back and do that all over again. Once you approve it, and pick out the colors you want as there is not always an exact match of colors. The staff time involved is more than people realize. Then you have the time the machine is tied up doing your stitch outs for your approval... all this and we still are not to the point where your actual order is being put on your item. THIS is why there are set up charges. The time it takes just to get ready to stitch out your order, the materials used, the emailing, and all the other things needed for normal processing.

The terminology confuses people and the average person has no idea what all is involved. They don't see the rent, the utilities, and the many many other costs involved. I for one have a new appreciation and realize mark ups and service charges are NOT a way for businesses to gouge customers. Many times we actually lose money because of the time involved.

[jake1044]

Yup the last thread was correct. I have had this done for a golf charity event and your logo needs to be digitized for points on the logo that the automated stitching machine needs to follow the logo and it's various colors. This usually runs from 50 to 75 dollars.

Sorry.

[nStyle]

I am still right. I talked to the guys at Lids and they told me that I could find someone who could "rasterize" it for cheaper or free. They told me it is possible to do without the $50 but they didn't know how. They know this because they have people that bring them files (what they said).

It is likely that $50 is going to be the easiest and only way out for me, but just figured I'd try.

[citizenzen]

Originally Posted by nStyle

I am still right.

Okay, Mr. Right...

You can save EMF files out of Illustrator CS3. It looks like you need to convert (trace) any bitmap art to vector.

Alternatively, you can get software made for working with embroidery, such as Pre-Design Studio.

Or you can know someone in the business who'll do it for a six-pack.

[nStyle]

So do you think I can rasterize it in Illustrator and it will work with their software?

[citizenzen]

Originally Posted by nStyle

So do you think I can rasterize it in Illustrator and it will work with their software?

The file needs to be in vector form. So you either need to start with vector art or trace your bitmapped art to convert it to vector. Looks like it should be in RGB, not CMYK color. Then Export to EMF format.

While this will save them a step in producing your cap, I'd be surprised if they didn't charge you the $50 set-up fee anyway. But if you give a try and it works, let us know.